When the local power company arrived Thursday to cut off service to a Branson motel used for long-term housing, the city and other area agencies were prepared.

It was, after all, the second time in a week.

Staff with the Branson Fire Department and the Taney County Health Department arrived at the Historic Branson Lodge at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, awaiting White River Valley Electric. In short order, they were joined by others.

The lodge's owner hadn't come through on a pledge to pay his bill. But it was the lodge's 49 residents, including nine children, that faced the consequences.

Seay said she received a call Friday from an individual who lived near the lodge, which is located at 2456 S. State Highway 165. The individual reported that power had been shut off to the lodge Friday morning, and that residents were running generators.

Sometime Friday, Seay said, the property owner reached an agreement with White River for service to be temporarily restored. Under that agreement, however, payment had to be made by close of business Wednesday — or power would again be cut off.

Online records maintained by the Taney County Assessor's Office indicate parcels at the lodge's address are owned by two LLCS. Propert LLC's listed address is a post office box in Springfield, while Investors Me LLC lists a box in Branson.

Seay said the individual who appears to be responsible for the property — and whose name appears on the electric bill — is Travis Tosh. No one answered a phone number associated with that name when a reporter called Thursday afternoon.

Seay said the city reached out to various entities early this week, preparing for the possibility that power would be cut off. The fact that children were living at the lodge, she said, "really tugged at my heartstrings."

In a Thursday morning news release, the city said the property owner had placed the residents "at significant health and safety risk." It noted the Salvation Army — which receives some grant funds from the city — was helping residents find another place to stay.

Ten households, with five children among them, had requested the assistance.

"These people, this is all they know as home," Seay said. "Some of them, this is all they can afford, is paying on a weekly basis."

The Branson Police Department arrived with "happy packages" for the kids. Taney County Animal Control was on hand to assist residents with pets. The fire department ordered pizza for lunch.

“Our role is to first ensure the safety of Branson residents and business owners, which is why the fire and rescue services is here to help these families," Fire Department Division Chief Randy Fogle said in the city's news release." This is not about code enforcement on a business owner; it’s about caring for the community when business owners impose a health or safety risk on community members."

Branson spokeswoman Jennifer Langford told the News-Leader Thursday afternoon that the building had been found to be unfit for occupancy.